2nd Annual Midwest Tea Festival Returns to Kansas City

ESU Partners with Paseo Academy for Third Annual Arts on the Hill: Spring Arts Festival

Event

The Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts will hold its third annual "Arts on the Hill: Spring Arts Festival" on Friday, May 6, 2016, from 1:00-6:00 pm. 4747 Flora Ave, Kansas City, Mo.

The Festival is a celebration of the arts, featuring Paseo's talented artist-scholars, alumni, and honoring Paseo's arts/business partnerships of Kansas City. Paseo's Spring Arts Festival will include the coronation of the Royal Arts Court, outside performances and events showcasing Paseo students, alumni, and community partners.

Lecture: Robert Hulse, M.A., Director, London’s Brunel Museum

Event

Robert Hulse, Director of London's Brunel Museum, will present a lecture at the Linda Hall Library, 5109 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo., on Tuesday, May 3, 2016. The English-Speaking Union, Kansas City Branch is co-sponsoring this free lecture program with the Linda Hall Library. This lecture is part of ESU's Evelyn Wrench Lecture Series.

Americans need little introduction to their favorite architect, but they may not know Isambard Kingdom Brunel (1806-1859), the Englishman who changed the world. His first project, the oldest tunnel in the London subway, changed the shape of our cities.

Let’s Celebrate the 6th Annual British Gala!

News

Brits International, a Kansas City-based non-profit organization, is hosting their 6th Annual British Gala KC. All ESU members and Friends of ESU are welcome to attend this one-day festival of all-things-British!

The ESU Kansas City Branch will have an information table at the British Gala so be sure to stop by and say hello to our ESU volunteers! Bring your family and friends as there is something for all ages!

Added Membership Value for First-Time Members!

Announcement

Even though our current membership year will end in three months, there is an opportunity in this fourth quarter for new members to take advantage of bonus months during their first year of membership.

If a new member enrolls during the fourth quarter of the membership year, that is, during April, May or June, their membership will carry over into the new membership year. That means the new member gets one, two or three extra months in their first-year membership depending on which month in the fourth quarter they enrolled.

Next Kansas City Tea & Literature Club Quarterly Meeting: April 11, 2016

News

KANSAS CITY TEA & LITERATURE CLUB

Don't forget about our Kansas City Tea & Literature Club, co-sponsored with the English-Speaking Union Kansas City Branch! The next meeting is April 11 from 6:30-8:00 at Se Faire Belle Salon and French Boutique.

The book for this quarter is "The Teahouse Fire" by Ellis Avery and our tea host for the evening is Brenda Hedrick of Anna Marie's Teas. Brenda will talk to us about matcha and we'll sample some. Then we will have some Japanese green teas and treats while we discuss the book! You still have time to read the book, though if you don't think you'll get all the way through, don't let that stop you from participating!

ESU Kansas City Branch Returns to 12th Annual Fine Arts Education Day at Missouri State Capitol

News

The ESU Kansas City Branch will again be represented at the Fine Arts Education Day at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City, Missouri, on Thursday, March 31, 2016. The purpose of Fine Arts Education Day is to highlight the importance of fine arts education in Missouri schools.

This program is sponsored by the Missouri Alliance for Arts Education which is a consortium of arts education associations that represent dance, theatre, music and visual art. By joining together, these organizations in Missouri speak with a powerful and unified voice about the importance of the arts in Missouri schools.

Grace Goheen, Blue Valley High School Senior, Wins First Place in 2016 ESU Kansas City Finals

News

Grace Goheen, a senior at Blue Valley High School in Overland Park, Kan. won First Place in the Regional Finals of the English-Speaking Union's, Shakespeare Competition in Kansas City, Mo. Her sponsoring teacher was Maureen Davis in Blue Valley's Performing Arts Department. This was the 32nd anniversary of the Shakespeare Competition for the ESU Kansas City Branch.

Over 190 students participated in preliminary competitions in Kansas City area high schools as well as a competition for homeschool students sponsored by the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival. The ESU Kansas City Branch Competition was held on February 28, 2016, at the Kansas City Public Library, Plaza Branch, Kansas City, MO.

Join ESU members and Friends of ESU for our Annual Holiday Brunch on Sunday, January 17, 2016. This year our program features a special guest speaker, Dr, Laura Harrison. Westminster College, Fulton, Missouri, has selected Dr. Harrison as the Fulbright Award Recipient for the 2015-2016 Fulbright-Robertson Visiting Professor of British History program. Dr. Harrison received her PhD degree from the University of Leeds, U.K. and will be lecturing in the U.S. and pursuing a writing project at Westminster College on one of the most prestigious and selective scholarship programs operating worldwide.

Dr. Harrison will present a fascinating historical look at some of the social customs popular with the young British working class circa 1880 to 1920 including the so called Coney Street "monkey run" in York.